The
need for long-term care services increases with age. However, little is
known about the predictors of long-term care (LTC) entry among the
oldest old.

Aim of this study was to assess predictors of LTC entry in a sample of men and women aged 90 years and older.

This
study was based on the Vitality 90 + Study, a population-based study of
nonagenarians in the city of Tampere, Finland. Baseline information
about health, functioning and living conditions were collected by mailed
questionnaires. Information about LTC was drawn from care registers
during the follow-up period extending up to 11 years. Cox regression
models were used for the analyses, taking into account the competing
risk of mortality.

During
the mean follow-up period of 2.3 years, 844 (43%) subjects entered
first time into LTC. Female gender (HR 1.39, 95% CI 1.14–1.69), having
at least two chronic conditions (HR 1.24, 95% CI 1.07–1.44), living
alone (HR 1.37, 95% CI 1.15–1.63) and help received sometimes (HR 1.23,
95% CI 1.02–1.49) or daily (HR 1.68, 95% CI 1.38–2.04) were independent
predictors of LTC entry.

Risk
of entering into LTC was increased among women, subjects with at least
two chronic conditions, those living alone and with higher level of
received help. Since number of nonagenarians will increase and the need
of care thereby, it is essential to understand predictors of LTC entry
to offer appropriate care for the oldest old in future.